This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviews at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at _@thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next good freelance … Continue reading A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell →
I seem to be on a bit of a roll reading romances between noble dukes and heroines who are impoverished commoners. The Duke Undone took this trope to some clever (and unexpectedly gothic) places. I enjoyed it quite a bit until the last quarter of the book, when the tone shifted substantially. Lucy Coover is a talented and aspiring artist, but as a woman, she is forbidden access to life drawing classes. So when she … Continue reading The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell →
It’s the first Whatcha Reading in July. Here’s how we’re kicking off the month: Lara: I’ve just started Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone. I’m only a chapter or so in, but I’m enjoying it so far. Will report back! Amanda: I’m happy to report I read four books in a week. WHO AM I?! Most of them have been rather middling dark romances. For a change of pace, I realized I never finished the … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? July 2025, Part One →
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading Thank you for Coming to the Crafty Zoom! →
We’re nearing the end of January! Here’s what we’re reading lately: Elyse: I just started Strike and Burn and DNF’d after one chapter. 1. The hero is named Strike Madden. 2. The hero and heroine make out less than an hour after she sees her sister’s dead body in a morgue. 3. His parting words to her are “See you around this fucking world, Honor.” Lara: I’m reading I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? January 2025, Part Two →
This Rec League comes from Anne, who wanted a part two of audiobook recommendations. Our previous audiobook Rec League dropped in 2016! I am an avid audiobook listener and am always searching for new narrators. I know that you posted a couple Rec League requests about audiobooks, but the most recent one that I found was from 2016 and I wondered if you would consider an updated Rec League request for audiobooks. It turns out … Continue reading The Rec League: More Audiobook Recs →
As we wind down April, we want to know what you’ve been reading! Claudia: My library copy of Artfully Yours by Joanna Lowell just dropped and I’m looking forward to reading it! Carrie: I’m finishing up Below the Edge of Darkness by Dr. Edith Widder, a fascinating memoir about studying deep and mid sea life Shana: I’m reading Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni. I don’t usually love adult coming out novels, but the heroine is … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? April 2023, Part Two →
This Rec League was sent in by Daniela. Thanks, Daniela! I have been reading a lot of Ted Lasso fanfic lately and it spurred a rec league request: can you recommend some books that have a Ted/Rebecca type of pairing? It’s not quite grumpy/sunshine but more like ice queen/extreme sunshine-shaped marshmallow. Ideally, if it’s an MF pairing, the hero is the marshmallow. Amanda: Please be respectful of Ted Lasso spoilers! Catherine: Ok, this is absolutely … Continue reading The Rec League: Ted & Rebecca Energy →
It’s October! My favorite month! I love the cooler temperatures in New England, the changing leaves, and breaking out my fall wardrobe, which I look much cuter in than my summer attire. It’s hard to make boob sweat fashionable. We hope your reading selections have been bountiful and squee-worthy! If not, you’re always welcome to kvetch in the comments. Shana: I’m reading Office Hours by Katrina Jackson and it is fulfilling all my Hot Professor … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? October 2021, Part One →
Time again for one of the most challenging recommendation features we have: READY, SET, GO! Here are the rules: We pick a specific sub-genre, trope, or type of romance, and we have to make ONE recommendation for that type. And no more than two sentences as to why. Just One. And our theme this month? This month: Historical Women in Trousers! Once spotted regularly in old skool romances where the back cover copy used words … Continue reading Ready Set Go: Historical Women in Trousers! →
